FIRST
READING: Revelation
4: 1 - 11
1
After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first
voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come
up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this."
2
At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with
one seated on the throne!
3
And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round
the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
4
Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones
were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns
upon their heads.
5
From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of
thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are
the seven spirits of God;
6
and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like
crystal. And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four
living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
7
the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature
like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the
fourth living creature like a flying eagle.
8
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full
of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to
sing, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and
is and is to come!"
9
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever,
10
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the
throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their
crowns before the throne, singing,
11
"Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor
and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they
existed and were created."
PSALM:
Psalms 150:
1 - 6
1
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his
mighty firmament!
2
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his
exceeding greatness!
3
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4
Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing
cymbals!
6
Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
GOSPEL:
Luke 19:
11 - 28
11
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because
he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom
of God was to appear immediately.
12
He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to
receive a kingdom and then return.
13
Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to
them, `Trade with these till I come.'
14
But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, `We
do not want this man to reign over us.'
15
When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these
servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that
he might know what they had gained by trading.
16
The first came before him, saying, `Lord, your pound has made ten
pounds more.'
17
And he said to him, `Well done, good servant! Because you have been
faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'
18
And the second came, saying, `Lord, your pound has made five pounds.'
19
And he said to him, `And you are to be over five cities.'
20
Then another came, saying, `Lord, here is your pound, which I kept
laid away in a napkin;
21
for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up
what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'
22
He said to him, `I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked
servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not
lay down and reaping what I did not sow?
23
Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I
should have collected it with interest?'
24
And he said to those who stood by, `Take the pound from him, and give
it to him who has the ten pounds.'
25
(And they said to him, `Lord, he has ten pounds!')
26
`I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from
him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
27
But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over
them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
28
And when he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.